5 Nov 2011

HALF TIME: Liverpool 0-0 Swansea.

It's 0-0 in the Liverpool-Swansea game at Anfield. Liverpool started well but faded a little as the game went on. Andy Carroll missed a golden opportunity to put Liverpool 1-0 when he smashed Stewart Downing's great cross against the crossbar, which makes it the 11th time Liverpool have hit the woodwork this season.

I have to be honest: Swansea have been superb. Their passing and movement has been a joy to watch, and they've had a few good chances themselves.

On a couple of occasions, they strung 30+ passes together without giving the ball away, leaving Liverpool chasing shadows.

Liverpool have created a few chances but some players need to seriously step it up in the second half, specifically Jordan Henderson, who looks terrified to try anything remotely risky.

Almost without exception, every time he's had the ball, he's gone for the easy sideways pass. Clearly, he doesn't have the confidence to take a risk, and that is why he has been totally ineffective in the first half.

Lots of promising positions have been lost in the final third because the balls being hoofed up to Carroll, who then knocks it down to no one in particular (or the midfielders are not quick enough to arrive in the box)

The team in full:

Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Carroll, Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Spearing, Bellamy, Kuyt, Kelly, Coates, Maxi.

Jaimie Kanwar


61 comments:

  1. Beautiful ball in by Downing, Carroll smashes against crossbar from 6 yards so not an assist....... Downing sucks ;)

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  2. I agree, great ball, but 1 great ball per 90 minutes doesn't really cut it, does it? Let's see what he does for the rest of the game.

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  3. It's not just me questioning Downing now; there was a big article in the Liverpool Echo making the same points I've already made several times: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-columnists/liverpool-fc-blood-red-column/2011/11/05/blood-red-time-for-stewart-downing-to-start-delivering-for-liverpool-fc-100252-29722702/

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  4. 21 shot assists now.......

    We look good though. Like v Norwich

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  5. He has been a little underwhelming so far in his Liverpool career i agree, i was surprised by the favourable stats though

    Swansea well in it now. Taking early chances is vital

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  6. Downings been our most effective attacking player today. 

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  7. Good transfer, Kuyt for Hendo

    No waiting until 60 minutes, just do it

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  8. they're all over us in the 2nd half

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  9. Why are we playing Lucas in a home game against a newly promoted team? If Kenny rates Henderson so much why doesn't he play him in his natural position in the middle with Adam while Gerrard is injured. Why isn't Bellamy getting a game?

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  10. Fair result, we were maybe even lucky to get the draw

    Carroll's early miss costly

    Glum, glum, glum

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  11. Carroll missed a sitter and most likely cost us the 4th spot.

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  12. We were unbelievably dreadful. One of the worst games I have watched all season. We had no imagination and no creativity. If this is the standards we have been reduced to god help us. Europe looks farther away every game.

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  13. Clueless Dalglish finally admits he signed a donkey (Carroll) and two mules (Henderson & Downing).

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  14. Because Dalglish knows we are simply not good enough.

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  15. Yeah its all the players fault defo not kennys anyway he is the king isnt he no matter what. Forget about the 70 odd million pissed away on downing, henderson  and carroll. That was surely Comoli's fault..hes french isnt he? lets blame him. Our midfield is embarrassingly shit but not kennys fault aquilani and merieles wanted to leave...their fault not kennys. Actually its probably rafas fault with his shit signings really if you think about it. GO KING KENNY!! 4TH PLACE WE'RE HAVING A LAUGH....

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  16. Downing ..Henderson..Carroll and Adam were great today ..wonderful performances by the four ..cannot understand why they are criticised..

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  17. I honestly don't expect anything, attacking wise,from anyone other than Suarez, adam, Bellamy and Gerrard.  As only two of them started today I'm not surprised with todays result at all.  On the plus side that's another clean sheet for Skrtel and Agger.

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  18. Really poor no positives from this game only luck that we kept a clean sheet.
    Only came alive in the last 10 minutes.
    Swansea know how to play football,we were looking at Nathan Dyer in the summer were n't we would have been a bargin at £2 million.
    Carroll should have been kept on Downing should have gone off for Bellamy.
    Spearing and Maxi deserve a chance especially in the home games after their performances last season.

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  19. Very poor result again. A lot of money wasted on mediocre players. I think Kenny realises that Carol was a mistake especially for the money just look at how Newcastle are doing without him! 

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  20. Yeah..pity once Carra is fit, he'll go straight back in. He's the heartbeat of the team don't ya know.

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  21. Until we have several players in the team with genuine pace, we're going nowhere. Our defence is slow; midfield is snailpace, and Suarez and Bellamy aside, our attack is leaden-footed.  Downing had a great cross in the first half, and a few other good exchanges, but then disappeared for the rest of the game.  £75m on Carroll, Henderson and Downing?  Absolute waste of money.  If we had that money back again now, it could be spent so much better.

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  22. I totally agree, and have said this many times, that 'buy british at your peril'. KD has wasted a hell of a lot of money, in buying, Carroll, Downing, Henderson, and Adam, and than getting rid of QUALITY foreigners, in Meireles and Aquilani? .
    WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON KD?, Liverpool FC always comes first!, and NOT the 'being surrounded by VERY  average and totally OVERPRICED british players!!. I have now lost faith in KD, as we look no better, than under Hodgson, and that took a lot for me, to say that.

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  23. SSSSSssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh your not a fan if you criticise Carra.

    Now do what I do......

    Carra is a legend and must play regardless of results
    Carra is a legend and must play regardless of results
    Carra is a legend and must play regardless of results
    Carra is a legend and must play regardless of results
    Carra is a legend and must play regardless of results


    I think we go away with it. You almost got us killed.

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  24. How much of that £75mil would we recoup?  13-15mil for Carroll, 7-8 mill for Downing and maybe 8-9 for Henderson.  In other words their true market value.

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  25. @mali341.....IF, Downing ..Henderson..Carroll and Adam were great today ..wonderful performances,as you say, (with Carroll and Henderson taking off,replacedf?) than all I can say to you is that, you must have been watching the highlights, and was NOT at the match, or you wouldn't have said that.

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  26. I thik you're being very generous. We'll probably are more than likely get much LESS!

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  27. What I meant to say was Carra is awesome, I hope he's back soon ;)

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  28. A very COSTLY mistake indeed, among others!.

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  29. I feel really sorry for the owners. They have done everything right, backed kenny to the hilt and they've been shafted. I just don't know how we can recover this time. I'ts gonna take a lot of money, are the owners gonna give it to kenny in January? I wouldn't...

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  30. CCharlie Adam is carrying the team..he definitely is better than Alonso..i think our problem is that we haven't bought enough British players. But i have been won over by KK and i believe we will win the league next year or the year after or the year after that or even the year after that if we don't win it this year.

    I have faith in KK and just you wait till CARRAGHER comes back..just can't wait for CARRAGHER.

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  31. in addition to the lack of pace: midfield was all over the place; huge gaps (space) between the lines; no real pressure or intensity to win the ball back; too much predictability, and except for Suarez -- no one else capable of producing magic.  Suarez still our most dangerous, creative player, despite having a bad day according to his standards.

    All of the above said, still great 5-6 minutes at the very end.

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  32. you are too generous, mate, especially with Caroll :)

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  33. Mali your sarcasm is amazingly funny. It is sarcasm isn't it? ;)

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  34. Pace is good if that was the total problem Spurs should run away with the league.
    Would like to have seen the team that did well second half of last season stuck with for a bit longer at the start of this season the passing and movement  and the pace of the ball was brilliant,you don't beat both Manchester clubs,Chelsea and start winning away a fluke,bit surprised Maxi and Spearing have n't seen more league time especially at home, where I thought last season under Kenny we had been transformed with beating the teams you expect us to beat and well.
    I back the signings still just to much change Adam should have come into take Meireles place and Downing on the wing, Henderson and Carroll need playing from the bench still to much for them price wise, I don't believe they have come bad players.  

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  35. The current myth of our return to pass and move football is slowly being exposed

    Technically the team has regressed not only from previous years but from last season... the excellent link up that was on display between Maxi, Suarez , Kuyt, and Meireles at the end of last season has gone which can only be attributed to one thing - the signings over the summer, for the money spent the return is not good enough.

    One thing I do not understand is if you already had Meirles / Aqualani at the club why would you buy Henderson / Adam when that money could have been spent on different positions, like the right wing? IMO letting Meireles go was a big big mistake

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  36. Robroy - you are right - I have also argued many years ago we had only two british players in our starting eleven and technically were superb on the ball - i just cant imagine us playing in the CL if we get there...

    Meireles was a mistake - shouldnt have been allowed to leave (Aqua wanted to be in Italy so would have been too hard to convince him to stay) 

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  37. Totally agree madness, unfortunately they were not brittish and it seems that goes against you with Kenny. It's disgusting what's been done to Maxi, not to mention Dirk... Seeing as playing the race card is quite in fashion right now...Kenny you big racist, give Maxi and Dirk a game!!! ;)

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  38. Agree with you, madness - the new go-brittish philosophy is madness :) I am also missing the flowing football we played with Maxi and Meireles in the team.  at the end of last season we were better organized, nowadays the midfield is all over the place, which even a technically superior team like Barca could not afford.  in the last few games, there were gaping spaces between the lines (even in the game with WBA), which have not being explored because of weak oppositions.

    In a perveted sense it is to our benefit we do not play in the Champions league with this team; would not fancy the idea of being hammered by some proper teams.  that said, I still hope we get to top 4 and fix the team in the winter/summer.

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  39. And believe you me ....mali341.........another couple of british players and we will win the 'European Cup',.....WITHOUT being in it!.

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  40. Aquilani had already started thinking of home, I thought he had the making of a great Liverpool player put in MOTM performances when he played but Roy just finished him off by sending him on loan and when he returned all he wanted was to go home.
    Meireles we will never know but the finger given to Lucas speaks a thousand words against Arsenal may be Raul was still spitting Lucas had been given a new contract last season and he had n't, strange bit of business should have been kept.

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  41. Still hating those British players? lol

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  42. Kenny was, and still is, making himself......COMFY, being surrounded by british players!, I could see this coming, from day one, that is why, I for one had my doubts, about him, and I regret to say that, I was right.
    Spending a fortune on the likes of..... Carroll, Adams, Henderson and Downing.... was a BIG mistake, while shipping QUALITY players in Meireles and Aquilani. It does NOT make any sense at all!!!.

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  43. JJ, we want us to succeed as much as yourself!, but facts are facts, and if them players we overpaid for were playing excellent football, we would not be having this debate. After spending so much money, we expect better, don't you think?.

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  44. I'm gutted at our display today...  main problem was our midfield.

    We were particularly poor at holding onto possession and as such, Suarez and Carroll were starved of the ball for long periods of the game.

    How we managed to spend so much on midfield players and yet look so poor is particularly galling.
    Its now obvious most of the new players brought in were to feed Carroll with long balls.
    Our technically gifted players meanwhile have been stripped from the team and as such our general play is now suffering.
    Pass & move, your having a laugh...

    I'm glad John Henry was in the stands to see  this display first hand.
    You can dismiss fan criticism, but once the boss starts asking questions, thats another matter...

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  45. Or you could also be taking the pee...mali341! :-)

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  46. WWhere have all the IN KENNY..WHO CAN DO NOTHING WRONG..DALGLISH....disappeared to.???

    Kenny do the honourable thing and resign

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  47. I think we need a plane.

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  48. That was a poor game for the midfield even though they have been misfiring the midfield still was creating chances that was the most wasteful I have seen this season.My argument is with the British midfield is if they are so poor how do we create chances?????????
    Suarez,Kuyt and Carroll have all missed sitters Suarez and Carroll again today I think Suarez and Carroll have now missed a gilt edge chance in nearly every game this season .
    Suarez again in the center of the penalty area and the keeper saves and Carroll with another header.
    The football is n't as good by a long way has as when Kenny first came in and the players responded to the pass and move football one touch football which freed Maxi,Kuyt,Meirles and Suarez leaving Lucas and Spearing to pick up and win the lose ball and get us playing again.
    Look at Dzeko at Man City he looked a poor signing suffering from the same problems as Carroll but look at him now another goal and an assist again,things Carroll was doing at Newcastle.

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  49. Been saying it from day one that these donkeys were donkeys ..but people were saying no they are for the future and in a few years they will be mules

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  50. Did Rafa resign after his start in 2004 18 points and we lost to Birmingham 1-0 at home on November 6th 2004, no he was given time!Or Houllier in 1998 24points but lost at home to Watford and picked up 2 points in October.
    Physco supporters in the football world now where they think one poor match defines a man and season and only 11 games into the season.
    Or even SAF who was given years before he did any good!

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  51. Just give me 10 games:-)......eh noo, I will need 10 weeks:-)).. eh ...noo noo makes that 10 month's :-))). Sorry but I need to cheer myself up!!!, couldn't even beat SWANSEA?, ah man I think i'll go and beat them on FIFA12.

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  52. Agree with you there.  I'll stick to what I said one month age that I'm writing this season off as 'work in progress'.

    Let's face it, had we got 4th spot what chance did we have in CL?

    Another clean sheet is a huge positive to take away.  Nonetheless, teams still seem to camp a lot in our half in the later stages of the game, particularly in the 2nd.  We saw that with Sunderland, Norwich and now Swansea.  

    Our problem is not necessarily the defenders it's more the protection they not finding from the midfielders.  LFC play a very attacking style of football which does leave huge gaps for the opposition to exploit, especially through the middle.  It's time Kenny played a 5 man midfield.    

    January we need to buy a proven striker, not a player who has 'potential' but a tried and tested striker and a central midfielder with pace.  If Adam had pace we'd be lethal.  

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  53. As far as I know, Lucas and Raul are good friends. It's not Lucas he gave the finger to. It was like to say - and they don't want to give me an improved contract! Get in!
    Well, he can enjoy the champions league now. And we will enjoy our midtable mediocrity by the looks of it.

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  54. We can only recoup half of that back and that's if we lucky.  Question, who would buy Carroll from us? I can only think of Newcastle.  

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  55. It was Lucas he gave the finger to, some say it was to do with Frimpong being sent off and he had given Lucas the finger but then again?

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  56. JJ I agree with you, Kenny should be judged at the end of the season... however... I think what has got some of the fans going is the regression over the summer.... maybe it was the stark contrast of style we played under Hodgson but the last few months of last season were very promising and all of us had very high hopes.... we have not repeated that type of football again this season and that is down to the change in the team - and yes the signings over the summer.
    We should give them time - as yes you are correct it is 11 games - but with that money spent 4th is a must...

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  57. It would be said that we're trying to bring too many new players in at once (everyone north of the defenders).  

    Add to that, we've bought players with specific limitations.  Adam/Carroll not mobile, Adam little positional sense, work rate or defensive nous, Henderson can only play centre currently and very young (we're trying to develop him as a Kuyt replacement for now).

    That's going to make it easier for other teams to come back at us (qed) and not taking our chances is costing points.

    They will be much closer to their potential on the run in and that could still get us 4th, but you'd have to say Spurs and Arsenal are well infront of us in that race as it stands.

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  58. Henderson is good in the middle but KK wants to play him wide right..............go figure???. Carroll is a massive problem, I don't want to see him in the team at all, we have better replacements for him. Downings place must also come up for review now, Bellamy is better.....!!!!

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